Tom Ricketts's 2025 Letter to Chicago Cubs Fans, Revealed

[Note: Some specific names are mentioned, like Kyle Tucker, but it's not meant to be a PREDICTION that Tucker is coming in a trade, but more of a reflection of a surprise trade as a general possibility. Obviously, this is an outrageously hopeful bit of dreaming, but it's the weekend. Let us dream together.]

Now that's more like it! We went into last offseason with money to spend, prospects to dream on, and a sense of urgency in the building to build a true contender. We sought to dominate the playoffs, not just compete for the final spots. Our goals were realized, and we hope Cub fans feel their patience was rewarded with this outstanding, historic Chicago Cubs team.

After an embarrassing 2024 wherein we fell short of our goal, our front office truly committed to building a winner on the North Side. We're thrilled to reward Jed Hoyer, the new Executive of the Year for Major League Baseball, with a five-year extension; we couldn't be more excited about the state of the franchise. We feel this affirms our decision, last fall, not to extend Jed until he was able to deliver a winner to our fans, and we're grateful that Jed understood that assignment.

Great trades like the one for Kyle Tucker really created a winning environment. While it fell short of the ultimate goal of a World Series championship, this year's deep playoff run thrilled everyone, and we can't wait to see what Jed cooks up for 2026 and beyond.

Nothing has us more excited for the future than the overnight emergence of homegrown budding superstar Cam Smith. With his ascent, along with Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros, we have a core of young talent fans can believe in and attach themselves to. With Cody Bellinger opting out and last winter's top free-agent bats going elsewhere, having these three prospects was the key to our success. They made it possible for our front office to trade Isaac Paredes for the ace arm we needed to finish the race and finally make it back to October.

Our bullpen certainly came to play this season. Porter Hodge cemented himself as a terrifying option in the ninth inning, and Ben Brown was a great bridge to him in the second half.

Of course, Craig Counsell was named Manager of the Year, and with good reason. Integrating the prospects with steady veterans Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner while improving our record by 10 games was no small feat. He refused to use the inevitable injuries as an excuse, and his leadership when Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga missed time, not to mention Cade Horton's injury setbacks, was invaluable. A great manager makes a big difference, and Craig proved that this year.

Our defense was the crown jewel of the resulting run, as Dansby, Nico, Ian, Michael Busch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong tied the record for Gold Glove winners on the same team. Pete, Shota, Ian, and Hodge also represented us in Atlanta for the All-Star game. Cubs fans should be proud to have watched so many award-winning players on the field.

Fans, we thank you for your patience as we built this organization back to a level you deserve.  While attendance was down early, the enthusiasm in Wrigley Field in September carried the team and you, the fans, would not allow another September swoon. We knew that the patience of the fans was wearing thin and we're proud of the product that we put on the field in 2025.  

Now, it's time to get to work and bring in another championship season into the North Side.

Sincerely, 

Tom Ricketts

Well, what do you think?  Pie in the sky optimism, gritty realism, what do you make of this?  Feel free to hit it in the comments.